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(No Model.) 2 sheets-s eet 1'.

v P. A. SMITH,:Jr. METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONS. I No. 336,955. Patented Mar. 2, 1886.

N, PEYERS. Photo-Lithographer. Wishingan. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheets shet 2. P. A. SMITH, Jr. METHOD OF MAKING BUTTON-S. g No. 336,955. Patented Mar. 2, 18-86.

N, PETERS. mwuuw m. Wllhingion D C NITED STATES FRANKLIN A. SMITH, JR, 'OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

METHOD OF MAKING BUTTONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,955, dated March 2, 1886.

Application filed December 11, 1885. Serial No. 185,332. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Buttons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of eye-shank buttons, and has for its object to produce a cheap and durable button for use on boots, shoes, leggins, and other articles of wear; and it consists, essentially, of an improved method of forming said buttons, the head portion of which is composed of leather, leather-board, or other suitable material, the shank consisting of a loop or eye having two corrugated beveled pointed legs, parallel to each other, which are forced into the said material and firmly secured therein during the operation of compressing and consolidating the material into the required shape to form the head portion, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved button-shank. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a button in the process of manufacture in accordance with this invention, showingthe beveled ends inserted into the head portion. Fig. 3 represents a similar view showing the location of the legs of the shank in the finished button. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a plunger and die in the act of inserting the eye -shank in the head-forming material; Fig. 5, a like view of the same with the eye inserted and button completed. Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of the button-die.

Similar reference-letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

.In carrying out my invention the shank A is cut from sheet metal or made from wire, and consists of the eye or loop a and two parallel legs, I) b, terminating in the beveled ends 01, as shown in Fig. 1. The sides of the legs b b are corrugated or notched, as shown at c, to retain a firmer hold of the head portion when secured thereto, and also serve to weaken the outer edges of the legs, so as to cause them to more readily bend in a divergent direction when forced into said head portion.

'The head portion B is formed of leather, leather-board, or other suitable material, into which the legs of the shank A are forced.

In forming the complete button shown in Fig. 3 the shank A is held in the opening a of the die a with the legs of the shank projecting therefrom. The material of which the head portion is composed is then placed over .the projecting legs b I), and the plunger a brought down upon said material, forcing it into the die and onto the projecting legs. By reason of the inward bevels d of said legs they are forced into the head-forming material in a divergent direction, as fully shown in Fig; 4.

Upon the lower surface of the head-forming material reaching the bottom of the die it is compressed and consolidated by the pressure exerted. The end a of the plunger, by reason of its concave form, compresses the outer edge of the head portion before the inner surface is reached, and thereby bends or curves the beveled ends of the shank downward, and the final pressure consolidates the material, thus forming the head portion into the required shape and firmly securing the shank and head portion together, substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

The subsequent addition of coloring or japanning is all that is necessary to produce a finished button.

By means of my improvement I am enabled to produce a button capable of resisting any undue strain which may be exerted portion is to be made, and forming said head 10 upon it without breaking or liability of sepportion into shape at one and the same operaaraling the shank from the head portion. tion, substantially as specified.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- In testimony whereof I afiix my signaturein 5 ters Patent the presence of two witnesses.

The described improvement in the art of FRANKLIN A. SMITH, J R. making buttons, which consists in forcing the \Vitnesses: legs of the button shank in a divergent di- CHARLES GREENE,

rection into the blank of which the head GEO. W. PRENTICE. 

